Seattle 2.0 Startup Day: What to know if you’re going

We’re looking forward to seeing more than 300 of you in Bellevue on Saturday (that’s tomorrow!) for the 4th annual Seattle 2.0 Startup Day, a Seattle-area tradition presented by GeekWire for the first time this year.

The audience will be filled with startup CEOs and founders, and those who aspire to be them. That said, anyone involved with or interested in startups is welcome, and will find value in this event. If you haven’t yet signed up, there’s still time.

And for those of you already planning to attend, we’ve put together this advance guide to help you make it to the venue and make the most of the day.

Location: The event is at Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th St. in Bellevue. (See map at right.)

Driving: Let’s get this out of the way first: The 520 bridge is closed for the weekend. The bonus is that you don’t need to need to pay a toll on the I-90 bridge, or I-405 if you’re coming from the north or south.

If this is the difference between going to the event or not for you, John Cook or I will personally give you a ride from Seattle, as long as you bring the coffee and donuts. As a special bonus, you’ll get a taste of the true startup lifestyle in John’s 1992 Honda Accord. Space is extremely limited, but seriously, email us if you really do need a ride.

Parking: it doesn’t get easier than the Meydenbauer Center Main Parking Garage. From there, take the elevator to the main lobby on the first floor and you can’t miss registration from there. For additional parking options here are some alternatives the venue recommends.

Registration and coffee start at 9 a.m. After picking up your name badge, our friendly events team will help you get situated. Check in, get yourself caffeinated, and fasten your seatbelts — as the main attraction starts at 10 a.m. with the first of 10 talks by CEOs and founders.

Internet: We will have free WiFi. The Twitter hashtag is #gwstartupday.

Elevator Pitch: If you’ve pre-registered for the Elevator Pitch, you know who you are (as do we) and we’ll get you into an appointment time for the morning. (If you haven’t already registered — sorry! This popular new feature is sold out!). If you’ve registered, check your email inbox for a message with more details.

Expert Advice: Good news for all attendees: everyone is welcome to sign up for an appointment at the live version of our Startup Resource Center in the afternoon. Come with your burning questions in business, financing, sales, marketing, legal, pitching, and design. This free perk is first-come, first-served, so sign up onsite while supplies last.

Refreshments: We’ll have plenty of breaks and refreshments throughout the day; breakfast, lunch, two breaks and the after-party are all included with your registration. We will keep you fueled up and provide plenty of time to connect with your fellow entrepreneurs and techies.

After-party: Starts at 4:30 and will feature a signature cocktail, DJ, and candid party pics on the big screen.

Questions? Post them below or email me at todd@geekwire.com and we’ll get them answered.